Dhumal stresses to explore use of solar, wind energy

PNS | Palampur

Himachal Pardesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday stressed the need for exploring the possibility of solar and wind power as alternate energy to ensure no power cuts in the State during winter season.

“With the increasing demand additional power would be required to be made available to the consumers,†he said, while addressing a seminar organised on 'Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna, envisioned for power saving by the State Government, organised by HPSEB and other organisations.

Chief Minister Dhumal said no power cuts were being imposed in industrial and domestic sector during winter season, when the water discharge in all feeding rivers remain lowest resulting into low power generation.

He said that it had been possible due to the agreement with the Punjab Government to supply Himachal power during winter when the State had surplus power and return the same during summer season when the hydel projects generate maximum power since the water level in the rivers remain maximum. He said that 300 MW of power was being supplied to Punjab in summer and returned to State during winter under barter system and material advantage.

Dhumal said that the global warming had threatened the future of hydel power generation. He said that with unpredictable weather conditions the rainfall and snowfall have become incertain. He said that decreasing rainfall and melting of glaciers would stop feeding the rivers and rivulets, endangering additionally the existence of irrigation and water supply schemes.